Novak Djokovic pulls out 5-setter over del Potro

Novak Djokovic advanced to the Wimbledon final with a five-set victory over Juan Martin del Potro on Friday, a 4-hour, 43-minute match that was the longest semifinal in the tournament's history.

Djokovic won 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (8), 6-3 to reach his 11th Grand Slam final. He is one victory away from his seventh major title.

On Sunday, he'll play the winner of the semifinal between No. 24 Jerzy Janowicz of Poland and No. 2 Andy Murray of Britain.

Del Potro saved two match points in fourth-set tiebreaker. After he won it 8-6, the match hit the 4-hour mark. The previous longest semifinal was 4 hours, 1 minute — between Boris Becker and Ivan Lendl in 1989.

Djokovic finished with 80 winners and 22 aces.

[Associated Press]